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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Swatching for Book #2 at Mood

I've been quietly working away on my next book, Gertie Sews Vintage Casual (due out fall 2014). I've completed the text and now it's time for the fun part: sewing the designs! There will be 10 patterns in the book with variations on each, for a total of 35 garments.

A few fun facts: 1) the patterns for the book will be printed on pattern tissue so you won't have to trace them, hurrah! and 2) I'll be modeling some of the garments, but we'll also cast a couple actual models for some diversity, and 3) genius illustrator Sun Young Park is doing the drawings again. I am SO excited about these developments.

Anyway, with the sewing comes the other fun part: picking out fabric. Mood Fabrics (of Project Runway fame) is the generous sponsor of the fabric for the book. And now I can't resist saying "Thank you, Mood!" in my best Tim Gunn voice, of course.

Yesterday I spent a couple hours on my first swatching trip. This is, in a word, overwhelming. Mood has three floors and countless bolts of fabric. (The photo above is just the eyelet section.) And then there's the matter of the book design: everything needs to coordinate to a set palette so it's pleasing to the eye. Where does one start?

I decided to wander and cut swatches of things that I loved and then bring home the spoils and sort things out, hoping that a pattern would appear. Here's the result:

The cool thing is that, if I squint, I can see the palette revealing itself.

Picking out fabric for a second book is easier than a first book in some ways. This time, at least I know which fabrics are a nightmare to photograph (I'm looking at you, duchess satin).

58 comments:

I'm so excited about your next book! I find your first one so helpful. So far I have just read through it a few times-- trying to absorb information to apply to other sewing projects. A few weeks ago I broke a long spell of not sewing, though, and made a portrait blouse for a job interview. I just love the results (and that I could squeeze it out of 1 yard of oh-so-expensive Liberty of London lawn). Now that I have the pattern tailored to me, I will be making many more, and eventually work my way through the more complicated patterns.

Not a plaid fan, myself, but the rest of the swatches seem a bit dark to me. I bought your two patterns you shared yesterday and am excited to use the techniques I learned in your Craftsy "Bombshell" class. Looking forward to the new book!

I always think Mood is too expensive for me -- I like bargains but lately I've been realizing that there's a LOT for every wallet. I want to go there so bad! But, more than I want to go to Mood, I want to see your new book. I guess if you're just now getting fabric for the clothes, it's a long way away.....?

How lucky you are to have access to places that sell good garment fabrics.

Glad to hear that you have a new book coming out, but am I in the minority because I prefer patterns that you trace rather than tissue paper patterns in a book? I like that the sturdy paper pattern sheets will always be there in my book as a backup no matter what happens to my tissue paper tracings. Besides, if we want to have access to multiple sizes when using the second book, we're going to have to trace from tissue originals which I find harder than tracing from sturdy paper.

Hmm, am I the only one that likes the heavy paper patterns? Ok, tracing off isn't fun, but the advantages of having the original pattern on sturdy paper outweigh that by far for me. When I buy a book like this, it is an investment for life and I want the patterns that come with it to last too!

That aside, I'm really looking forward to the new book! Also massively jealous of your shopping at Mood. This side of the pond we just don't get places like that for fabric.

Thanks for sharing the new book developments! How exciting for you and your readers. I squinted at your samples and see turquoise (sp?), orange and black/white stripes and of course plaid! A little bit of an Americana theme.... sort of.I'll be interested in seeing what the actual color theme is :), and of course your fabulous book. All the best with sample sewing!

I've only just discovered your blog, though I must admit that it was your cat that hooked me! He's gorgeous. In the past I've had a Russian Blue called Galadriel Natasha (Tash for everyday) and a British Blue called Sir Japer Stoneyheart the Landlord (Jazz for short). So, I'll be back to check up on your sewing blog and also hoping to get further glimpses of Henry.

I am working on my first project from your current book, so I shouldn't be so antsy for your second one to come out yet... but I am! The illustrations are beautiful, and I can't wait to put it on my wishlist. :)

how do you manage to get any sewing done with Henry "helping"? my two cats are always up in my projects, sitting on top of the sewing machine, rolling around on top of the fabric as i'm trying to cut it... i love the, but oi vey! so frustrating!

Speaking of fabric, does anyone know of a resource that suggests alternative fabrics to those listed on the pattern envelope. For example, instead of bengaline one may use (fill-in-the-blank). Sometimes I don't like a recommended fabric and other time I simply cannot find it. Thank you.

No sewing project is ever complete until you've bled on it (in the case of some fabrics, you can substitute snagging it on a torn fingernail), or the cat has blessed it.I'm seeing a turquoise-with-accents theme? Henry would look gorgeous against shades of dark turquoise . . . .

Wow, three floors of fabric, I would not know where to start...Are you always allowed to fetch so many swatches, or is this an exception because they are sponsoring the fabric for your book? I am curious which swatches Henry will choose. Looking forward to your new book!

Normally you have to ask one of the employees to cut swatches for you, and they're always really busy, so you have to choose carefully. But for this project, I got special permission to cut my own swatches. :)

Love Mood! Was there last spring on a trip to NYC from Wisconsin, and they were SUPER helpful, and let my pre-schooler "swatch" to keep him entertained. He still has his swatches, and I have been very successful with my fabrics.

Hi Gertie! I love your first book! For the second book, please include a line drawing of the garment to go along with the photo of the model wearing it so it's easy to see the style lines. Thanks for your easygoing teaching style and wonderful blog! It really inspires me.

Your books are so helpful and I enjoy them along with your blog! Your cat Henry, looks like a twin to my Lana. And yes, cats love to get fur all over the fabrics and play hide-n-seek in them when trying to cut.

Really looking forwards to the new book, but please please pretty please reconcider on the tissue paper for the patterns. I realise there are some who are happy about them, but while it´s fine for single patterns I don´t think it makes sense for a *book*. the point of a book is to be able to return to it over and over again, the complete opposite of a tissue pattern. Just since I bought the first book about a year back my body has changed a lot, and if I´d cut into the patterns then they´d be completely worthless now. The lack of sturdy pattern paper will siginificantly lessen the value of the book over time.